It’s not usually that we get the possibility to do a cross-platform assessment. It’s good to see how the identical title ports to completely different programs, and though on this planet of recent tech, every little thing ought to be equal this isn’t all the time the case. With this in thoughts, my good good friend and colleague Albert Eres and I’ve been taking a peek at Crypt Custodian. a brand-new Metroidvania that’s simply hit our PC and console screens. For the needs of this assessment, I’ve been having a run on the PS5 model of the sport, while Albert has been seeing what the Swap port has to supply. Let’s see whether or not we each have good issues to say, lets?
Alex Southgate
Crypt Custodian is a sport a few cat who has entered the afterlife. For completely silly causes I gained’t go into right here, he isn’t allowed into heaven and will get dumped on this planet exterior The Palace. He’s then given a brush and the duty to scrub up that somewhat disagreeable airplane of existence. The story, whereas being just a little bit on the unusual aspect is very well written and it’s all the time good to play a sport that doesn’t take itself too severely. This being stated, there may be nonetheless a specific amount of caprice to the plot that makes the characters you’ll meet alongside the best way likable. That is one thing that’s fairly laborious to attain in a Metroidvania setting as they have an inclination to revolve round hard-hitting motion and both don’t have a lot of a narrative or have one that matches this style. To see a sport doing one thing barely completely different is refreshing.
The very first thing I completely love about Crypt Custodian is that it isn’t a side-scrolling affair. Numerous Metroidvanias are platform video games which have been expanded upon. This one is a top-down journey and as somebody who actually isn’t a fan of hectic platforming, that is very welcome. Suppose Zelda: A Hyperlink to the Previous and also you’ve form of bought an concept of what we’re going for. I don’t know precisely why that is however I discover leaping from place to put from a top-down viewpoint far more correct, and this takes numerous the frustration away.
As with every Metroidvania, you gained’t have the ability to entry the entire areas of the map from the start of the sport. This makes back-tracking a should but additionally implies that you gained’t run into something you may’t deal with too early on. You aren’t going to get misplaced and end up dealing with odds method above your capability as a result of these areas might be locked away from you till you’ve discovered the abilities to achieve them. By this level, you have to be geared up to take care of what you’re dealing with. This creates an odd paradox. This isn’t by any means a linear sport and exploration is not only inspired however essential, however on the identical time you may’t simply go wherever and do something which makes the zones you may discover totally really feel manageable. That is nice since you don’t ever really feel overfaced by what Crypt Custodian has in retailer.
Crypt Custodian blends motion with puzzle-solving completely. These of you who simply need to get into the thick of it is going to positively have the ability to scratch that violent itch however preventing by no means feels so tough that you simply need to break the controller. Equally, the puzzles on this title are sufficient to make you scratch your head with out feeling like they’ve been made overly difficult for the sake of it. If a puzzle is taking you too lengthy to finish it most likely isn’t that you simply don’t know what you’re doing, however somewhat that you simply’ve missed one thing pretty easy that you simply’ll spot after just a few tries. That is one thing that, once more, I respect as a result of this mix of puzzle-solving and beating issues up with a brush creates the proper tempo to maintain you hooked.
One thing that I feel will assist hold Crypt Custodian’s gameplay refreshing is the quantity of issues there are to seek out and acquire. A few of these are improve factors that could be hidden behind gated puzzles or in sections of the map you gained’t have the ability to discover initially. These are clearly actually vital as a result of they’ll assist the passive talents you should buy through the sport. It’s also possible to acquire cats. These pleasant felines are hidden in jars dotted across the map and if you will discover all of them and convey them again to their mum you’ll be rewarded. The truth that these are sometimes off the overwhelmed path implies that when you’re caught or desire a break from the realm you’re battling by way of you may all the time return and search for the bits you’ve missed. There are useful warp factors across the map that make back-tracking really feel straightforward so there’s no ache in re-exploring the locations you’ve already been.
Talking of warp factors … these are wells from which it can save you, equip talents, and teleport. That is additionally the very first thing you’ll need to discover when discovering a brand new space. The issue is you’ve bought no concept the place the following one is. This can be a great way of getting the adrenaline pumping as a result of when you don’t discover your subsequent protected level right away or occur to go within the fallacious course whereas exploring you may need numerous work to do earlier than you will discover one other. This could put you within the place of not having numerous life and understanding you’re in unknown territory. As you don’t need to undo all of your laborious work by getting booted to the final one, the sensation of aid while you discover these is typically palpable.
Crypt Custodian‘s graphics have a cute, arcade really feel, the sound is nice and it controls like a dream on PS5. I’m fairly hit-and-miss with the Metroidvania style, largely on account of not liking platform video games a lot; largely as a result of I’m not superb at them. I didn’t get the standard feeling of frustration enjoying this one and simply needed to see what I used to be going to come across subsequent. I feel when you like this form of gameplay this title goes to be proper up your road. Crypt Custodian has a 90s RPG really feel to it which I additionally like so much and components of gameplay deliver again some actually fond recollections. This being stated, I’d name this sport a win, for me not less than. It’s a improbable new addition to my library that I’m positive I’ll return and end.
Total Rating: 9/10
Albert Eres
Crypt Custodian is definitely a breath of recent air for a newcomer into an motion style that’s presently closely saturated with Soulslike video games. Whereas it takes heavy inspiration from two legendary retro sport sequence, particularly Zelda and Metroid, the sport units itself aside with a customizable expertise that many informal players would respect and luxuriate in. It additionally helps that Crypt Custodian has an enthralling story and premise that includes the Neko (i.e., cats).
The primary gameplay factor in Crypt Custodian that’s considerable is that whatever the chosen issue, enemies that spit out projectiles may have indicators of the place their assaults are going. Most motion video games these days, (I’m you Soulslike video games,) need gamers to “git gud” and predict assaults to keep away from them. Crypt Custodian doesn’t anticipate gamers to be psychic and lays assaults the place they are often prevented simply. That’s to not say that the fight within the sport is straightforward; some projectiles lash out rapidly and a few enemies aggro like loopy. This being stated, not less than some predictability is current, which is nice for somebody who desires to simply get pleasure from an motion sport.
The opposite gameplay facet that’s most pleasant about Crypt Custodian is the gameplay help choices that enable for the customization of components like assault energy, fall injury, and additional well being. For some informal players, that is the distinction between ending a sport whereas having loved the expertise and ragequitting. It’s disappointing when players don’t persevere with a sport when it has an attention-grabbing narrative and artwork fashion merely on account of its issue. It needs to be stated that Crypt Custodian has each. The one situation that I discovered on the Swap port, (presumably a bug,) is that after activating some help choices, they revert again to the unique after navigating by way of just a few screens.
One of many nicest help choices in Crypt Custodian is the additional time on puzzles. More often than not, issue settings in motion video games relate to enemies’ assaults and patterns and don’t account for puzzles. This feature permits gamers to have further time when finishing timed puzzles which might be usually very tight. Even when a lot of the timed puzzles are elective (normally for an improve level), it’s good to know that one doesn’t must be a platforming and puzzle professional to finish them.
Crypt Custodian is a superb suggestion for anybody who’s an off-the-cuff gamer, a fan of Zelda and Metroid, a lover of cats, or the entire above. There are numerous issues to get pleasure from in regards to the sport, and making it a breeze to get by way of the more durable components of it’s simply the cherry on the highest.
Total Rating: 9/10
Nearly Purrfect
9/10
Cats go to heaven
Crypt Custodian is a homage to basic RPG and puzzle gameplay. The story is enthralling, gameplay is enjoyable and addictive and so they aren’t making an attempt to ramp up the issue as a result of it’s the carried out factor. The truth that we each had an immense quantity of enjoyable with this sport on two completely different programs speaks volumes. This title isn’t doing something massively new with the style however what it’s doing, it’s doing completely. For those who just like the Metroidvania fashion, this a sport that you simply completely must get your claws into.
